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Official Rules

1. How to Enter. To enter, teams (which must consist of a minimum of two (2) family members, with one family member 18 years-of-age or older, and one family member under the age of 18) (each a "Team" and collectively, "Teams") must complete an official Nature Challenge ("Contest") registration form online at http://essmextension.tamu.edu/naturechallenge. Each team member must accept the terms and conditions detailed in the online consent form, with the Parent(s)/Legal Guardian(s) accepting on behalf of minor(s) under the age of 18. Registration begins on May 6, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. CST and all Registration materials must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. CST on July 17, 2009. Given the nature of this Contest, Sponsor reserves the right to limit entry in Contest for safety or logistical concerns. Limit one entry per family or household/per Team.

2. How to Play/Win: The Contest will feature activities (each an "Activity" and collectively the "Activities") at the designated parks, forests, and recreation areas (each an "Event" and collectively, "Events"), based on the specific "Mission", which shall be incorporated by reference herein and will be made available to all entrants at the Events where Activities are taking place or online at http://essmextension.tamu.edu/naturechallenge. Each Team will be awarded ten (10) points for completing at least one (1) Activity, from start to finish. Therefore, the maximum cumulative points for each Event will be 10 points per Team.

At the conclusion of the Nature Challenge, all Teams present at the last Eligibility Round Event that have accumulated the maximum of points will be invited to participate in the Semi-Final Challenge, during which each Team will have the opportunity to answer a series of questions based largely on the Activities and Events they participated in over the summer. The Semi-Final Challenge will take place on August 8, 2009 at Sims Bayou Nature Center (Map).

Teams answering all questions correctly during the Semi-Final Challenge will advance to the Prize Round. If less than three Teams answer all questions correcting during the Semi-Final Challenge, those Teams answering only one Semi-Final Challenge question incorrectly will advance, and so on, until at least three Teams are eligible for the Prize Round, which will also occur at the site of the last Event on August 8, 2009.

All Teams eligible for the Prize Round will participate in a Final Prize Mission, as described on the day of the finale. Based on the criteria set forth therein, Judges will determine one (1) winning team each for the First, Second and Third Place Prize. Any ties for First, Second or Third Place will be resolved by a repetition of the Final Activity until a sole Team is chosen for each Prize.

All Registration Materials in addition to any materials submitted via the Nature Challenge web site (including any photographs, videos, images, or other intellectual property submitted to Nature Challenge by any Team) (collectively, "Additional Materials") become the sole and exclusive property of the Nature Challenge Program, and receipt of Registration Materials and/or Additional Materials will not be acknowledged or returned. Delivery of prizes requires a street address (no P.O. Boxes). The Nature Challenge Program is not responsible for lost, late, illegible, stolen, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible, misdirected, technically corrupted or garbled Registration Materials, which will be disqualified, or for problems of any kind whether mechanical, human or electronic, including without limitation, problems with the web site through which entrants download/submit Registration Materials. Only fully completed Registration Materials are eligible.

3. Judging. All Teams must complete Missions, the Semi-Final Challenge and the Final Prize Activity as described in the Missions, which shall be incorporated into the Official Rules by reference. All Activities, the Semi-Final Challenge and the Final Prize Activity will be judged and scored in accordance with the relevant Mission. The Nature Challenge Program reserves the right to reject or disqualify any Team, for any reason, in its sole and absolute discretion, including without limitation for cheating, violent or dangerous behavior and/or unsportsmanlike conduct. The Nature Challenge Program reserves the right to cancel the Contest in the event that insufficient number of Teams are entered to adequately apply the scoring criteria as set forth herein and in the Missions.

4. Conditions. Participation in Contest and acceptance of prize constitutes each entrant's and each winner's permission for the Nature Challenge Program to use his/her name, address (city and state), likeness, photograph, picture, portrait, voice, biographical information, Submission and any statements made by each winner regarding the Contest or Sponsor for advertising and promotional purposes without notice or additional compensation, except where prohibited by law. By participating, entrants and winners agree to release and hold harmless the Nature Challenge Program, Texas Forest Service, Houston Wilderness Society, their respective advertising and promotion agencies and their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, representatives, agents, successors, assigns, employees, officers and directors, from any and all liability, for loss, harm, damage, injury, cost or expense whatsoever including without limitation, property damage, personal injury and/or death which may occur in connection with, preparation for, travel to, or participation in Contest, or possession, acceptance and/or use or misuse of prize or participation in any Contest-related activity and for any claims based on publicity rights, defamation, copyright infringement, trademark infringement or invasion of privacy and merchandise delivery. Teams who do not comply with these Official Rules, or attempt to interfere with this Contest in any way shall be disqualified. There is no purchase or sales presentation required to participate.